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Abstract

α-Lipoic acid (LA) and acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) are naturally occurring antioxidants, endogenous to human tissues. Several derivatives of these compounds are either naturally occurring or synthesized for their applications as potent antioxidants and as prodrugs, such as L-DOPA conjugates, which are used in various neurological disorders. LA also maintains homeostasis of other antioxidants-ascorbate and tocopherol- in vivo. Metabolic transformation of these compounds involves β-oxidation, and several such metabolites are characterized by mass spectrometry. ALCAR conjugates of naproxen and ketoprofen are currently marketed as effective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. By maintaining homeostasis of acetyl-CoA and acetylcholine, and through its superior blood-brain barrier properties, ALCAR serves as a carrier of the acetyl moiety into the brain, and thus it is useful as a potential therapeutic in Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.